Tom’s Last “Furage”
By John Trotwood Moore
Manager’s Note—There has not been a week since we commenced to publish Trotwood’s Monthly that we have not received one or more letters asking us to reproduce “Tom’s Last Furage,” it never having been published in any of Mr. Moore’s books; hence is not in permanent form. In compliance with these requests, we reproduce the story together with a note by the author as it appeared in the Olympian Magazine, in October, 1903. Since that publication, the old Judge after serving a quarter of a century as Judge of the Black Belt Circuit, died in harness, while holding court in Greensboro, Alabama, April 27, 1904. It is said that no judge ever lived in Alabama, who held so generally the love and affection of all the people, white and black, as did Judge Moore. It seems almost incredible to relate that the last time he was re-elected to office, in a general election, in which all parties were represented and all classes of men voted, out of 9,500 votes cast, Judge Moore received all of them but one.
Speaking of his death the Birmingham News said: “In his death, the last link of the old leaders of just after the war, passed away, honored, loved, lamented sorely; not only by his home and district, but by the South. As his pastor said at the funeral, ‘let us pray God’s guidance to fill his place; not only as a jurist, but in the hearts of his people.’”
A few years ago William Jennings Bryan related the story of “Tom’s Last Furage,” in an after dinner speech, and said it expressed more clearly the relationship existing between the old Southern gentleman and his slaves than any story ever written.
Peace to the ashes of so noble a man. The old Judge has passed into the beyond. May he meet and know all whom he loved here, even old Tom.
E. E. SWEETLAND,
Business Manager.
Author’s Note.—This story was first published in the Horse Review of Chicago, December, 1897, but in December, 1899, it was plagiarized by some writer whose name, I am glad to say, I have forgotten, and published in Munsey’s Magazine under the title of “Jim’s Defense.” Mrs. Frances Herrick Fowler, the gifted California writer, called Mr. Frank A. Munsey’s attention to the plagiarism and he very promptly wrote me a letter of apology. Since then, so many public readers and even negro minstrel companies have used the story, giving credit to the plagiarized form, that, at the earnest request of the editor of The Olympian, I am permitting it to appear again in its true form.
A coincident so amusing in the plagiarism occurred that I shall mention it. Much of the story is an incident in the life of my father, Judge John Moore, still Judge of the Black Belt circuit of Alabama, and Tom’s home coming, bringing my father’s saddle, clothes, and sidearms, is the first distinct memory of my life. In plagiarizing it the author in Munsey did little less than to change the names, and in doing so he changed “Miss Mary” to “Miss Emily,” and thus unintentionally gave all the characters their true names.
J. T. M.